Los Angeles “Ready to take…”

Always with your head in books, want to escape and read for a while? Major-Prépa has the solution! Here is our new format, ready to go, to combine knowledge of English-speaking cities and travel. For this article, we have chosen to introduce you to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States after New York. So, don't forget your pole Self portrait. Between environmental challenges, history and iconic places, a refresher on this city will allow you to shine in English on oral exams.

Los Angeles by the Numbers

• 3.849 million people (2021)
• 1,299 km²
• Average temperature of the hottest month 24.1°C

His history

Los Angeles Bay has been home to the Tongva and Chumash Native American tribes for over a millennium. It was later discovered in 1542 by Jono Rodríguez Cabrillo.

In 1771 and 1797, two Spanish expeditions from the south established themselves in the region. After the United States won a war against Mexico in 1848, the region came under their control.

In 1850, the city became the capital of the district of the same name. At the time, it was a small town in the American West, characterized by its saloons, its gambling halls, and its still dirt roads. This picture is also drawn in the film Back to the future (Back to the future)

In Spanish, Los Angeles means “angels”. In English, it is referred to as its citizensAngelenosAngelines.

Challenges of Los Angeles

Due to urban sprawl, low population density in the metropolitan area, proximity to high mountain ranges, and widespread car use, Los Angeles faces significant air pollution. The smoke, Particularly dense, it originates from exhaust gas emissions and industrial waste.

On November 20, 2006, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach launched plans to reduce air pollution by at least 45 percent over five years. The Mayor of Los Angeles also signedUS Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. It is an agreement aimed at achieving the greenhouse gas reduction targets established by the Kyoto Protocol.

Despite the municipality's efforts to encourage the development of public transport and carpooling, measures have been insufficient. A network of bicycle lanes and bus lanes has been established to provide alternatives to the automobile.

At the same time, the homelessness crisis is reaching alarming proportions. A record 55,000 homeless people have been reached in 2017. Rising rental prices and lack of laws to protect tenants from landlords are the determining factors for this rise.

Landmarks

Tourism activity in Los Angeles is booming with 50 million visitors in 2019. Especially thanks to theme parks like Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood, but also Sunset Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Melrose Avenue.

Los Angeles is an art city with the Getty Center and LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)

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